<p>Mom2 has indicated that she has not completed a FAFSA and I believe her kids have great merit aid at 'Bama. So…one would guess that the FAFSA is NOT required.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>No, Bama doesn’t ask for FAFSA. We’ve never submitted a FAFSA (altho i have looked it over so I would know what people are talking about…LOL). </p>
<p>*The OP intimated that after he turns 18 his parents are no longer claiming responsibility over him. I’m not sure if this applies to filling out the FAFSA but if it does then any merit aid should hopefully not require that form. *</p>
<p>This is the big elephant in the living room problem. IF the family refuses to fill out FAFSA/CSS then many schools can’t really even be possible choices…because all the student can get is merit scholarships (from schools that don’t require FAFSA), and small student loans (about $6k per year). </p>
<p>Of course, even if they agree to fill the forms out, if the family contribution-EFC is significant, then the student will still have a big problem since he won’t likely be able to cover that with Stafford loans since those will already exist in his aid package.</p>
<p>That’s why I’m hoping that the parents will back down from the whole “disowned” thing. I get the impression that the main issue is that poster feels that he or she is too awesome for the college that the parents favor and they had an argument over that. A conflict like that can be bitter but the rift isn’t usually eternal; hopefully once tempers cool down the relationship can heal. The family might not be able or willing to pay for, say, NYU but if they are willing to fill out the FAFSA and give the student a place to come home to during holidays and summer break at least that can mean the difference between a workable and an untenable situation.</p>
<p>The OP feels he’s too awesome for the colleges that are funded by Bright Futures…and his family doesn’t want to pay more…that’s what it sounds like from the posts. Two choices…either take the Bright Futures scholarship and go to school in FL or figure out a way to fully fund an education elsewhere. OR I suppose option three is to hope his parents change their minds.</p>
<p>You know…we frequently tell kids to talk to their parents about college finances. It seems this family has made it clear that the Bright Futures offer is THE one on the table for undergrad for the OP. Now…the OP has to make some decisions. The reality is that his parents’ financial information will be required for need based aid everywhere. And full rides, while possible, are not al that plentiful. </p>
<p>OP…do a search for a thread by momfromtexas who found excellent merit aid to fully fund her two kids college educations. Not top name schools…but they showed the money.</p>
<p>I am a little confused as to why the OP thinks he’s so awesome. Yeah, that’s an outstanding SAT score, but the GPA and class rank aren’t all that impressive compared to other strong students who also have high test scores.</p>
<p>I do understand wanting desparately to get out of Florida. I felt the same way about southern CA when I was 17, 18 years old. (I did leave too, never went back, and happy to be long gone from the place after these many years.)</p>
<p>Personally, I find it hard to believe your parents would be so irrational. Now don’t write me off as a “concerned mother”, I am a teenager and all, but I just don’t see how they could so easily pin a $20 bill to your collar and wish you the “best o’ luck”.</p>
<p>If they are so worried about the cost of school, it would be in their best interest to help you fill out a FAFSA. Do they know what that is (I had to explain to mine)? I mean, it’s not exactly free money or a free ride to any school, but c’mon, doesn’t it help?? </p>
<p>On the off chance that they know what a FAFSA is and still won’t help you, then I suppose you should consider not LESSER schools, but not crazily-expensive. If you want all of that prestige, maybe you should transfer to one when you are old enough to fill out the forms yourself? </p>
<p>For the time being, though, I guess you should just stay rational in the midst of your parents’ lack; meaning, don’t see UF, FSU, USF, UCF, UM, etc. as “beneath you”. That kinda egotism in your financial pickle will lead to a bunch of trouble. Honestly? Get over yourself.</p>
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<p>This from an earlier post - nothing wrong with shooting for the stars, it’s entirely possible the parents are simply bringing their kiddo back down to earth. It’s entirely possible that if the OP assembles a reasonable list of possibilities including a Florida school (which most reasonable Florida parents would require anyway) and a couple of these plus some other matchier schools financially and academically that a dialogue might be opened up again. I could certainly see myself with shut ears if one of mine was fixated on a list like this to the exclusion of all other possibilities given the cost ramifications, the chances for an acceptance and all the other bagage of these particular schools.</p>
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<p>Hmmm…I’m pretty sure you would find many bright, hard-working students at UF and at any other flagship around the country. Most of us have kids like this ourselves, and many of them are at public universities. I think you should do a bit more research here, and you may be surprised to find that UF has some very well-respected programs and some phenomenal students too. (Btw, once you pass the CPA exam, few employers will care about your school and in accounting there’s more of a regional, rather than national, preference anyway.) If this is just a “I want to go out of state” thing, you’re going to have to find schools where you can afford to give up the scholarships and extremely low instate tuition that Florida will offer you - 'Bama may be one, Berkeley and NYU are definitely not.</p>
<p>*That’s why I’m hoping that the parents will back down from the whole “disowned” thing. I get the impression that the main issue is that poster feels that he or she is too awesome for the college that the parents favor and they had an argument over that. A conflict like that can be bitter but the rift isn’t usually eternal; hopefully once tempers cool down the relationship can heal. The family might not be able or willing to pay for, say, NYU but if they are willing to fill out the FAFSA and give the student a place to come home to during holidays and summer break at least that can mean the difference between a workable and an untenable situation. *</p>
<p>Maybe I’m reading too much “between the lines” but this is what I’m getting.</p>
<p>The parents have no intention of giving one cent towards college since Bright Futures will cover FIU which sounds like is commutable from home. The cost of books, etc, can be paid for thru a part-time job and working summers.</p>
<p>Sometimes parents like this refuse to submit FAFSA/CSS because even if they’ve made it clear that they won’t pay, they don’t want their child to see a number suggesting an amount that they “could” pay if they were being more cooperative. </p>
<p>However, even if the parents will submit a FAFSA/CSS, if the EFC comes back - say $15k or more - that might as well be a million, because the student’s FA package will already have full Stafford loans in it. He’ll have no way to cover that EFC.</p>
<p>So, providing a place to stay over summers and holidays is not the issue. I agree that the student probably hasn’t been “disowned” in the true sense of the word. It more sounds like these are the kind of parents who believe that once you’re 18, you need to support yourself. That’s not the same as being disowned. </p>
<p>I wonder if the student will still be covered under the parents health insurance, car insurance, cell phone plan, and whether the parents will take him as a tax deduction after he’s 18 and while he’s in college? Hmmmm.</p>
<p>, but I just don’t see how they could so easily pin a $20 bill to your collar and wish you the “best o’ luck”.</p>
<p>They’re not really doing that. They’re essentially saying that you can go to FIU on Bright Futures for free and commute like his sister did. They are essentially saying that since that option is available, no other options that will cost more money are needed.</p>
<p>*then I suppose you should consider not LESSER schools, but not crazily-expensive. If you want all of that prestige, maybe you should transfer to one when you are old enough to fill out the forms yourself? *</p>
<p>He’d have to wait til he’s 24 not to use his parents’ info. The definition of “not crazily-expensive” is not really relevant when a student can only come up with about $10k per year on his own with Stafford loans and personal income. Anything else would have to come from big merit schools. </p>
<p>A student like him could not even afford a school that costs $25k per year if all he has is his Stafford loans and personal income.</p>
<p>OP is not “disowned”, just disappointed and entitled… </p>
<p>People are giving a lot of good college advice… </p>
<p>I’d like to add that perhaps short term psychotherapy would help them not go through life empowering their mis-perceptions and causing emotional suffering and distress to their present and future family and intimate relationships…</p>
<p>no that is not the reason im getting disowned… there are deep personal issues that have been growing since… hmm im going to say seventh grade… they just get worse and worse as time passes.</p>
<p>And as far as my SAT and GPA not correlating is because my school is extremely competitive and I am so nvolved in so many things after school that it took effect on my studies</p>
<p>PLEASE EVERYONE READ THIS!!!</p>
<p>nooo the argument is based off my so many things… like my father insulting me, my mom never talking to me, keeping things from me… so please back off thinking that the argument is college related…</p>
<p>They arent concerned about the money… They want nothing to do with me so that equated to no school… This is one of the facets of this situation… Like im asking for advice from here on college, im asking advice elsewhere to figure out where i am going to live from december to june while i go to college… So please stop thinking this is college based</p>
<p>I am not disappointed that I have to go to a florida school, people lead to generalizations…</p>
<p>and I am listening to peoples advice… i started looking at UF honors college and things of that nature but please stop making me seem like a spoiled brat who its stubborn about his schools. seriously, I am not that person and it is quite frustrating</p>
<p>I accept the fact that your family life is messed up. You, however, are contributing to the problem. If you really want this, get your parents to help (not financially). If they don’t, then you will almost HAVE to rely on bright futures, in-state colleges. Why are you so against fl? I hope it is not solely pride keeping you from looking into fl schools.</p>
<p>*They arent concerned about the money… They want nothing to do with me so that equated to no school… This is one of the facets of this situation… Like im asking for advice from here on college, im asking advice elsewhere to figure out where i am going to live from december to june *</p>
<p>What? Are your parents saying that you can’t even live at home while you finish your senior year once you turn 18? Is that legal in Florida?</p>
<p>Are your parents native-born Americans?</p>
<p>Do you have friends/family that you can live with during the second semester of senior year?</p>
<p>like my father insulting me, my mom never talking to me, keeping things from me…</p>
<p>Did your sister have to move out as soon as she was 18? Did she turn 18 during her senior year or after?</p>
<p>What kind of insults are you getting?</p>
<p>no it is not… personally I dont like the people in general, I really do not like the fact that the campus has 90213483270461092364 people in it, but I will make the best of the situation and make the most moving essay of my life to get into the honors program at UF (Im figuring that is the best one in Florida?)</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids it is not your concern( i dont mean to be rude, its just a touchy subject for me. my sister was the only person i was close to in my family) … its done its over. no they are not native born americans, I am colombian, and my sister was the prodigy child until halfway through her MBA prep she got pregnant. thats all im going to say because like I said my whole family is flat out convoluted.</p>
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<p>University of Florida is a great school. It’s Tier One, if that matters, so you’ll basically be getting an amazing education with your Bright Futures scholarship.</p>
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<p>If he’s really “disowned”, then he can’t commute from home. If he’s disowned, he’s basically an orphan. That’s what that word means and if he’s disowned that’s a very serious problem that even staying at an affordable in-state public college won’t really mitigate. That’s why I hope he’s not actually disowned and that this problem can be resolved at least to the point where he can come home when the dorms close and get help with any expenses not covered by his scholarships.</p>
<p>the ollege thing is not the main trigger. and disowned means… he wants nothing to do with me. does not care wether i drop out, dont go to college, and his words were something along the lines of</p>
<p>you can figure it out because I do not care</p>